22 CENTRAL LEADER, NOVEMBER 3, 2010
LETTERS
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Mail: Central Leader,
Private Bag 56910,
Dominion Rd,
Auckland
Fax: 630-5432
Email:
clletters@snl.co.nz.
Licences
As as result of concerns
regarding the granting
of, and proliferation of,
licences to sell liquor
under the Liquor
Licensing Act 1989 I
have to wonder what
information is given to
those who wish to make
an objection.
In a recent application
there were three written
objections, none of which
was accepted by the
liquor licensing agency
on the grounds that they
had not addressed any of
the grounds required for
making an objection.
There is also the issue
of public notification.
When an application is
made for a licence, a
requirement is for a
notice to be placed in a
newspaper on two
separate occasions, and
that objectors then have
10 days from the date of
the first publication in
which to register their
objections.
The details, address,
name of business and
company applying are
stated in this notice.
There are a couple of
issues here.
One is that in the
public notice is that
statement that the
application may be
inspected during office
hours at the licensing
agency office, with
address.
It is also stated that
anyone who wishes to
make an objection can do
so within the stated time
period to the liquor
licensing agency.
There is nothing about
the necessary
requirements to be
covered in the objection,
or where to find such
information.
Should anyone wish to
receive a copy of the
application, then it is
necessary to make a
written request for such
a copy.
There is something
wrong here.
When a member of the
community is able to
view the documents by
going into the council
offices (surely this means
that this information is
in the public domain?)
then why then is it
necessary to make a
written request for them
under the Official
Information Act?
Information regarding
listed companies is
available free, this being
in the public domain, so
why then is all the
information blacked out
on the licence
application?
I urge anyone who is
concerned at the ease
with which such licences
are available to make
written submissions, or
form groups or
collectives and make
submissions for changes
to the legislation.
SUZANNE PAUL
Address withheld
Farcical
Well done on the fine
public relations job being
done by the traffic officer
on the lower end of Cook
St.The wonderful officer
in question was standing
at the base of the hill
where drivers exit the
motorway and
immediately enter a
50km zone, drive over
the rise and then hit the
downward slope which
can see your car easily
coast over the speed
limit.
While it is true that
the law is broken, to say
that he is there to save
lives and not revenue
collecting is farcical to
say the least.
The same can be said
for the speed camera van
I have seen on State
Highway One up near
Puhoi, parked beside the
only two-lane passing
area.
Just try and overtake
a truck that speeds up to
90kmh without going
over 100kmh there.
Or the speed camera
van on Glenfield Rd,
parked on the hill just
after Park Rd, where
unless you sit on the
brakes your car will
coast up to 60km.
Life saving?
I think not.
Revenue collecting,
most definitely.
If these areas are of
concern, why not run an
education campaign over
a couple of weeks?
Have officers pull up
offending drivers and
say, You were over the
speed limit, it s very easy
to do here, we are trying
to make people aware of
that fact.
The speed you were
going would normally
incur a fine of $X amount
and X demerit points.
Drive carefully.
Public relations and
trying to educate in the
one hit.
But no, they carry on
targeting areas where
people can inadvertently
break the speed limit
and then try and say it s
not just gathering
money, it s trying to save
lives.
IthinkIseeanewTui
billboard. SIMON HAINES
Auckland city
Support
I d like to congratulate
Tony Mayes and the Mt
Albert Residents
Association for their
Community Patrols of
New Zealand initiative
in Mt Albert.
MARA has been
concerned about the level
of crime including
graffiti and general
annoyance particularly
around the Mt Albert
shopping centre and
around the railway
platform for quite some
time.
Although I am not a
member of MARA I do
feel it my community
duty to volunteer my
services to this initiative.
Patrols are found in
communities around the
country and usually
linked to councils.
They are not vigilante
groups but can act as
eyes and ears for police.
It is incumbent upon
all of us to take
responsibility for our
community.
It doesn t have to be
volunteering for patrol, it
could be forming or
joining a Neighbourhood
Watch group or
something even simpler
like introducing yourself
to your neighbour and
keeping an eye on their
property.
The efforts of people
like Tony, Gary Carter
and Mary Crotty should
be supported and I would
like to offer them my
support.
CLAUDETTE HAUITI
Sandringham
Eden Park
I have a few issues
around Eden Park.
I find it a real insult
for the council and Eden
Park to issue passes for
residents to access their
homes on match days at
the park.
Having to apply and
prove that you are a
resident is an insult to
the integrity of the
residents.
Now the hoardings are
down the echo from the
South Stand is just as
pronounced as we have
complained before.
Work done by
contractors outside 25
Reimers Ave has left
rock and stones on the
grass verge -- a real
hazard when mowing the
verge, in fact I refuse to
cut the grass with those
rocks there.
Really the standard of
finish along the avenue
after contractors have
completed their work is
disgraceful.
I would have thought
council would have been
aware of the lack of
drains at the
southwestern end of
Reimers Ave after heavy
rain, it quite often pools
in that area where the
road dips a bit.
The same applies at
Walters Rd at the
notheastern end of Eden
Park.
I was rather surprised
to see the height of the
road in relationship to
the entrance there, a
northeasterly storm
would, I feel, cascade
water into the park
forecourt.
Truly I was dismayed
to see only one
stormwater drain from
Cricket Ave (along the
southern side of Walters
Rd) to Sandringham Rd
-- strange indeed if you
look at the amount of
drains on Eden Park s
frontage on
Sandringham Rd.
The lack of stormwater
drains on Walters Rd is
quite astounding
considering the amount
of road works carried out
there.
I came home on
Wednesday to find every
carpark taken on
Reimers Ave.
Going to visit my son
in Mt Albert I travelled
along the back way to
New North Rd along
Altham Ave, and all the
roadside carparking was
taken up there too.
As I have stated to the
Eden Park people and
the council, it is not the
match days that is the
problem but the function
centre and the lack of
parking provided for
such usages. F D P GUZZO
Mt Eden
Gold Card
IsawontheTVthatwe
senior citizens have still
got the Gold Card.
I m so pleased, I will
still be able to get around
on transport for free. I
appreciate what the
transport service is doing
asIhadtogiveup
driving because of the
condition of my health.
I know there are
others like me, also there
are the senior citizens
who couldn t afford to
travel around before the
Gold Card came in and
they appreciate the
transport service.
With how I feel and
others may feel the
same, I ve been thinking
for some time the
transport service could
put in every bus a
donation box so that any
Gold Card holder could
show their appreciation
by putting in a donation
when using the service.
This would help the
transport service to
benefit everyone who
uses it.
One will not be asked
to give a donation, they
will just make up their
own minds according to
the distance they are
going to travel, plus a
donation going, nothing
returning.
Some people may not
agree with how I feel and
think but we all have our
own mind through life.
If all goes well, in the
future Gold Card
members might get the
privilege to start their
day earlier at 8am
instead of 9am.
TED LINDRIDGE
Onehunga
Mt Eden
I heard with dismay an
application to close off
part of local maunga Mt
Eden for a private, fee-
paying concert with
alcohol sold at the venue,
at the last monthly
meeting of the Eden-
Albert Community
Board.
Usually Mt Eden or
Maungawhau is open to
the public and that
includes most areas.
It is a prime local spot
for visitors and residents
alike.
Therefore under no
circumstances should the
local board and the city
council allow a private
event to take place for
the privileged benefit of
a few people.
Previous movie nights
and music concerts have
been successful and no
damage has occurred,
but clean-ups have taken
both time and resources.
Given that there is an
almost total ban on
alcohol at all parks,
reserves and open
spaces, this application
is at odds with the
bylaw.
PETER BOYS
St Lukes
Square
The refurbished and
redesigned Aotea Square
initiated by mayor
Hubbard and progressed
by mayor Banks is to be
welcomed. Already
people are reclaiming the
space, using it to play
pick-up rugby or to read
in the sunshine.
Historically and
culturally, the square
was used by skaters as
well.
It is of concern that
the terrazzo tiles used do
not appear to be able to
withstand skaters.
The tiles have chipped
badly in a short period of
time; what will they look
like in two years time?
Despite the cost
savings trumpeted in the
construction and fit-out
of the square, it would
now appear that these
savings, plus extra
ratepayer funds, will
now have to be spent on
remedial work and/or
replacement of the tiles
with robust and durable
materials.
I will be working with
officers in the near
future to ensure that the
square is constructed of
durable materials, and
becomes a place of
inclusiveness to all
citizens. CHRISTOPHER
DEMPSEY
Waitemata Local Board
member